12 Popular Nursery Chairs, Reviewed

By Shoko Wanger

Illustration by Lizzie Soufleris

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We’ll put it bluntly: The single “best” nursery chair does not exist. In the world of chairs—just as in the world of, say, jeans or plain white T-shirts or mattresses—there can only be favorites, decided upon by those whose tastes align with each particular item’s shape, size, material, bells and whistles (or lack thereof). When all is said and done, what looks and feels great to one person might downright repel another—but this is not not to say that learning from the experiences of others can’t be enormously helpful. In the search for niche products like nursery chairs, there’s much to be gained from hearing the opinions of parents with similar search criteria.

Ultimately, the details will come down to personal preference: Are you looking for a recliner, rocking chair, or swivel glider? Something traditional, modern, or minimal? Will it need to fit in a small space, or is there room to move? But to assist in what can truly feel like a never-ending hunt, we’ve asked our trusted community of contributors for their take on 12 popular choices on the market today. May their reviews play a prominent part in your research, and when you’ve settled finally on a winner—one that meets your standards and those of others who share your wants and needs—kick your feet up on its matching ottoman, extra wide seat, or comfy, stain-resistant footrest and know you’ve definitively found the best.

Tester: Pujah Shah, global director of audience development, analytics, and social

How was the delivery and setup? Delivery was quick and simple, as it came already assembled. The chair is also very light and easy to move around.

Why did you choose this chair? I initially chose this chair for its simple design but soon fell in love with its cozy texture and broad seating—it’s perfect for lounging.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? If yes/no, why? This is one of the coziest chairs I’ve experienced, so I definitely plan to continue using it for the nursery or another bedroom and during future pregnancies.

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Tester: Katy Olson, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? It was simple and seamless, and assembly required about 10 minutes total.

Why did you choose this chair? Newly pregnant when I purchased it, I knew I wanted a swiveling glider in a neutral performance fabric for under $1,000.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? My husband and I will likely keep it in the living room for as long as we have young children. The silhouette is sleek enough that it doesn’t look like a typical baby product, and the fabric hasn’t stained in four-plus months of use, as it wipes down easily with soap and water.

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Tester: Marissa G. Muller, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? The chair arrived well-packed and protected in plastic, and it was easy to take out and set up. It came in two pieces and the top piece easily slid right on.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

Why did you choose this chair? You would never guess the price tag from sitting in this chair—its quality is on par with nursing chairs that cost twice as much. It has a better look than most of them too. Between the ivory boucle upholstery and the pretty wood base, the chair is light and airy and it doesn’t have a huge footprint, especially for a nursing chair.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? The Crewe chair delivers on the promise that it’s heirloom quality, especially for the price. This nursing chair feels like it would last two kids and it looks nice enough to stay in the primary bedroom after the nursing days are long gone.

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Tester: Shoko Wanger, contributor

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

How was the delivery and setup? Delivery and setup couldn’t have been smoother. Our communication with Sixpenny was seamless from the start; the delivery team was quick and professional, and we really appreciated that they carried the chair into the room of our choice. We live on an island where larger deliveries like this are a challenge, so we were doubly impressed by the whole experience!

Why did you choose this chair? I’ve always been drawn to the casual elegance of Sixpenny’s slipcover furnishings and liked that this piece seemed particularly well-suited to a smaller space. Our son’s room is tiny and oddly shaped, so its more compact frame was appealing. I also love that the slipcovers are removable and washable—essential with a small child!

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? Definitely! As mentioned, the washable cover has me feeling confident that it’ll look great for years to come. And, much to my relief, it doesn’t scream “nursery” and would transition really well to a reading nook or another bedroom. Also, major points for a pink nursery chair that doesn’t read cloyingly sweet. It’s really subdued and sophisticated—such a plus.

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Tester: Briana Feigon, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? Great. We put this item on our baby registry and it was one of the first gifts we received! The chair arrived at our doorstep in a large box. All we had to do was open the box, and the chair was fully assembled.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

Why did you choose this chair? I love the idea of a baby glider that can eventually transition into a long-term furniture piece in our home. This Babyletto swivel glider comes in a beautiful cream bouclé. The design is sophisticated; it has lovely, rounded edges; and it doesn’t take up too much space.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? I do. I love the design and it is ultra comfortable to sit in. I think the caveat is how clean the white fabric will continue to look after late-night spit-ups and a toddler climbing all over it.

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Tester: Elaheh Nozari, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? Very seamless white-glove delivery. Logistics called about a week in advance to confirm the delivery time, and the driver called when he was about 15 minutes away. Two people brought in the chair; no setup was required.

Why did you choose this chair? I chose it because I wanted a chair that could be used for a long time in a kids room and wasn’t specific for newborns, like a glider that has a rocking motion. I also wanted a chair that was comfortable and plush but didn’t take up too much space, and one that had a neutral look.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? Yes, because it isn’t specifically designed for a nursery. It can be used for a long time in a kids room or moved to another room since it comes in a variety of neutral colors. Room & Board furniture is also very well-made (this is my second Room & Board seating purchase), and I know from experience that their pieces last a long time.

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Tester: Briana Feigon, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? Great. A delivery team brought in the box and unpacked and set up the chair for us. The communication leading up to the drop-off was great and we could even track when the delivery was slated to arrive during the pre-determined delivery window.

Why did you choose this chair? I liked the idea of finding a nursing chair that could evolve into an oversized snuggle zone to curl up with the kiddos and read books together before bed. The Kipton Swivel chair feels almost like a love seat, with easily enough room for a parent in the middle and a kiddo on each side.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? Maybe. I love the idea of this chair evolving into a reading nook for years to come. Our nursery is quite small, and this chair is definitely large, so we’ve moved into the living room. It’s still a bit too large for our space, however, nuzzling up on a Sunday morning with a crossword and a cup of team is an optimal way to take advantage of this plush piece!

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By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

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Tester: Shoko Wanger, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? Both were great! Article was incredibly clear and communicative, and we knew exactly when our delivery was arriving. On the day of, the two-person team met me in the driveway, carried the chair to the location of my choice, and were back down the hill in their truck minutes later. As for setup, there was no assembly required, so the process was as easy as removing a little padding and positioning the throw pillow on the seat.

Why did you choose this chair? I’ve had really positive experiences with Article in the past as a reliable source of affordable, high-quality furniture. This was no exception. I have always loved the idea of a classic rocking chair without any serious bells and whistles, and this seemed like the perfect pick. I was drawn in particular to its timeless silhouette and to its color, which is a refreshing change from so many neutral options. Plus, it just looked cozy.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? Yes! My husband and I love it, and so do all of our guests who have tried it. It’s very inviting—everyone wants to sit in it. I love having something like this that isn’t just for the baby or toddler years, because I know I’ll be able to use it long after our child has grown out of the nursing/rocking/bedtime story phase.

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Tester: Katy Olson, contributor

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

How was the delivery and setup? The chair was shipped quickly and the setup took under seven minutes despite the bulky box. Bringing the Glider Plus home was simpler than expected.

Why did you choose this chair? The gold-standard glider for breastfeeding moms, Nurture&’s Glider Plus earned rave reviews from my friends who had already rocked out with it. I was eager to try a more technically responsive chair, and, with a power recline and power lumbar support, plus a 200-degree swivel, the glider makes finding the right position as easy as the gentle tap of a button or two.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? We’ll keep it as long as we have young children, but it wouldn’t integrate well into our decor outside the nursery. It feels durable and high-quality enough to pass along to a friend or family member after we’re finished with it.

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Tester: Pujah Shah, global director of audience development, analytics, and social

How was the delivery and setup? Super easy to assemble. The chair comes in two pieces which are the base and the back. It took us less than 10 minutes to set up and move into our nursery.

Why did you choose this chair? This, to me, is the MVP of nursery chairs. This magical chair reclines, swivels, and rocks—it does it all! And the cream colorway looks effortlessly sleek in our nursery.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? One hundred percent! Because this chair has so many features, it can be used in various rooms (family room, a bedroom, etc.). I plan to keep this chair for many, many years to come.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

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Tester: Marissa G. Muller, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? Delivery left the box at the bottom of the stairs and it was definitely a pain to bring up. The chair’s packaging wasn’t the most protective and the sides of the chair were up against the box. Fitting the back into the base took a little more finessing than anticipated—it didn’t easily slide on like other chairs.

Why did you choose this chair? Babyletto’s Sigi Recliner and Glider has all of the thoughtful finishes you’d want in a nursing chair: silent and silky smooth reclining with the press of a button, a built-in USB port to charge your phone, and water-repellent and stain-resistant fabric that won’t show every spit-up or worse.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? The chair feels like it would last throughout a nursing cycle and maybe beyond, but it doesn’t feel like a forever piece. The loose fabric around the arms isn’t going to get better with time and the cushioned back has a strong imprint from days and hours of sitting in it.

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By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

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Tester: Marissa G. Muller, contributor

How was the delivery and setup? The box gets dropped off right at your door but not inside. It’s definitely a two-person job to carry it in, and, most likely, you’ll have to turn the base on its side to fit it through the door. The chair isn’t packaged in water-repellant material, so you don’t want it delivered on a rainy day. Once you do get it inside, setup is quite easy. The back of the chair slides right on in a minute, and one person can do it alone.

Why did you choose this chair? The chair has all of the features of a traditional power recliner but with an updated look. The curves, fleecelike fabric, and the round wood base give it a modern feel, and the easy reclining and USB ports to charge your devices make it easy to sink into it for hours—whether you’re nap-trapped or just want a cozy place to sit and rest.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? The quality matches the price tag on this chair, so it does feel like it will outlast the nursing stage and toddler stage. Once your child outgrows it, you might even want to keep it in your own room.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

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Tester: Pujah Shah, global director of audience development, analytics, and social

How was the delivery and setup? Easy and convenient. The chair came assembled, but it is very heavy. I would recommend asking the delivery team to bring it to the actual room and floor it needs to be on.

Why did you choose this chair? This is by far the chicest chair that I’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting on. I initially chose this chair because of its gorgeous, contemporary design, but it has quickly won the hearts of visitors by being the preferred seat for many.

Does this feel like a piece you’ll have for a long time? I can definitely see this piece being with us for a very long time. It has been a beautiful addition to our family room, where I love to curl up with our newborn and sneak in those early morning and late night cuddles. I absolutely adore this chair.

By Valentina Raggi

By Erika Owen

By Sydney Wasserman

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